The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Sunday, expressed delight that Nigeria is attracting positive international attention as a country that promotes media freedom and freedom of expression.
He said this was premised on the government’s understanding of the important roles that information literacy and media education play in sustainable development.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said this while pledging his “full support” for three major international events scheduled to hold in Nigeria in October and November 2022.
The events include the 2022 UNESCO Global Media, Information Literacy Week in Abuja, in October; the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry in Lagos; as well as the second Global Association of Literary Festivals Conference, Abeokuta, in November.
The statement titled ‘President Buhari pledges support as Nigeria hosts major cultural, tourism and literary events,’ read in part, “Welcoming the decision by UNESCO, United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Global Association of Literary Festivals to grant Nigeria the right to host these separate historic events, the President assures all relevant stakeholders and participants of the warmth and hospitality of the people of Nigeria.
“On MIL Week, President Buhari notes that it is instructive that Nigeria is attracting positive international attention as a country that promotes media freedom and freedom of expression, recognising the important roles information literacy and media education play in sustainable development.
On the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry, the President said, the rapid growth of Nigeria’s film, fashion, music, and ICT sector, and the increase in international appeal and acceptance would continue to spur government to devote more resources to the sector.”
He noted that the $100 million re-development of the National Theatre, Lagos, into a world-class Creative Park is also ongoing, following the handover of the facility to CBN and the Bankers Committee.
